Wabukala reflects on hits and misses in corruption war at EACC

Former EACC Chairman Eliud Wabukala. [File, Standard]

Former Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairman Eliud Wabukala has called for cooperation among all agencies dealing with corruption, saying it is crucial to combat the scourge.

Speaking at the Desmond Tutu Conference Centre during the annual Anti-Corruption Dialogue, themed ''Do nothing out of selfish ambition, consider others first'', the cleric said: "Corruption is not just a Kenyan issue but a global one, akin to the Afghan gods that seem invincible."

Wabukala shared the ups and downs as EACC chairperson, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and victories in the fight against corruption in Africa during his tenure.

"We are so many, but we cannot stop corruption,"he said at the event graced by anti-corruption champions from different countries. The cleric went further to draw a parallel to Christians' inability to prevent the Rwandan genocide.

Reflecting on the nature of Christianity and its role in societal issues, Wabukala regretted divisions within the church.

He recounted how, as a child, he was denied access to certain schools due to denomination differences, saying this was the situation among different churches in the approaches to addressing corruption.

Wabukala questioned the message being propagated by the church today, pointing out that it often centres on obedience, resilience, and division rather than unity and integrity.

During his tenure at the EACC, Wabukala oversaw significant achievements, he said, adding that in just one year, he processed more than 234 cases and recovered about Sh4.5 billion in assets, including buildings and land.

"We repossessed assets whose ownership could not be explained and surrendered them to the government," said Wabukala, highlighting the importance of integrity at all levels.

Despite these successes, Wabukala confessed to facing challenges. He said the commission dealt with thousands of cases every week, necessitating the prioritisation of high-impact investigations involving prominent figures.

He emphasised the need for public understanding of the benefits of fighting corruption. "Many people are disillusioned due to the prolonged duration of corruption cases," he said.

To counteract corruption effectively, Wabukala emphasised the need for sustaining public awareness activities.